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Previously Taught Techniques
In my painting and printmaking
class, I had already introduced paint-
ing techniques such as impasto, and
p
rintmaking methods such as chip-
board printing. Chipboard printing
i
nvolves cutting shapes and images
out of thin cardboard and coating
both sides of the cardboard with
acrylic gel medium. Students then
use soft brayers to apply water-soluble
ink on the selected side.
The Challenge
I challenged students to incorporate
collage in a painting that told a story.
I asked them to play with proportion
and scale, much like Bearden did
in his work, where he exaggerated
selected parts to enhance the nar
-
rative. Some of the areas could
b
e large painted shapes, others
detailed cutouts from magazines
or newspapers, and some printed
chipboard reliefs which were then
applied using double-sided adhe
-
sive sheets (chine collé) or printed
d
irectly on the paper by placing
the chipboard on a Plexiglas sheet
which had the image drawn on it.
Dynamic Points of View
I requested that students play
with creating more than one lay-
out from the elements they chose
b
efore settling on their final com-
position. They honed their collage
t
echniques and practiced to create
a powerful composition with an
interesting focal point. Because stu
-
dents were emulating the abstract
el
ements and humorous qualities
in Bearden's work, they felt less
tied to the demands of realism and
proper perspective and were able to
develop their own individual and
dynamic points of view.
Students felt less tied to
the demands of realism
and proper perspective
and were able to develop
their own individual and
d namic points of view.
Strength and Scale
The final works were compelling and
extraordinary. Students of all levels
found that this assignment was engag-
ing and allowed them to demonstrate
t
heir particular strengths in the final
image. They particularly enjoyed play-
ing with scale and being able to use
i
mages from other sources to include
elements they might not feel skilled
enough to produce themselves.
Gale Sasson is an art teacher at River
Dell High School in Oradell, New Jersey.
gale.sasson@ riverdell.org
N A T I O N A L S T A N D A R D
Creating: Conceiving and developing
new artistic ideas and work.
W E B L I N K
ww.beardenfoundation.org
Sam Z.